Game player, rims taken in burglary
Someone entered a Vintage Court residence by tampering with the back door between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Thursday and stole car rims and an Xbox game with a total value of $3,679, Athens-Clarke police said.

Bold thieves snatch unattended car
A pair of thieves took off with an Athens woman's car Thursday after the woman left the keys in it at a convenience store while she went inside to pay for gas, Athens-Clarke police said.

Laptop ripped off from UGA dorm room
A University of Georgia student reported his laptop computer and Ethernet computer network interface card with a total value of $2,300 were stolen during a burglary of his Myers Hall dormitory room between Nov. 9 and last Saturday, UGA police said.

Bank robber left trail of loot behind
The Bishop man arrested minutes after he robbed an Atlanta Highway bank Wednesday left a trail of loot to his getaway vehicle as he stuffed money into his pockets, Athens-Clarke police said.

Wheels stripped from two SUVs
Someone stole tires and rims valued at $3,000 from a 1999 Dodge Durango and 2000 Ford Explorer while the trucks were parked in front of the owner's apartment on Sir Scott Road between 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and 6:55 a.m. Wednesday, Athens-Clarke police said.

Fast facts
These teams have both been undefeated twice for this matchup since 1935. In 1970, the 8-0 Buckeyes downed the 9-0 Wolverines 20-9. In 1973, 9-0 Ohio State and 10-0 Michigan played to a 10-10 tie. This also will be the eighth time that one or the other of the two teams has been ranked No. 1. Michigan was No. 1 going into the game in 1947, '48 and '97, and Ohio State was No. 1 in 1954, '69, '73 and '75.

Game breakdown
Ohio State (Troy Smith, Antonio Pittman and Ted Ginn Jr.) and Michigan (Chad Henne, Michael Hart and Mario Manningham) have two of the best skill position trios in the country. The edge - a slight one at that - goes to the Buckeyes because of the overall speed. While he is one of the fastest players in the country, Ginn may not be the fastest player on his team. That honor may go to fellow receiver Anthony Gonzalez.

Magill: Dogs beloved by Pound
The late Herschel Scott of Monroe set the record of attending 471 consecutive Georgia football games from 1962 through the thrilling Tennessee battle Oct. 11, 2003, in Knoxville, Tenn. He died happy, though, a few days later. Georgia had given the Volunteers a 41-14 loss, their worst defeat in Neyland Stadium.

Quotables
"If you think my career has been a failure because I have never won a national title, you have another thing coming. I have never played a game for the national title. Our goals always have been to win the Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl. If we do that, then we consider it a successful season." - Bo Schembechler a few weeks before coaching his final game

Michigan: Fast facts
With an 11-0 record this season, Michigan has added to its lead in all-time Division I-A victories and winning percentage. The Wolverines have an 860-280-36 record during their 127 seasons. Notre Dame (822-267-42) is second in both wins and winning percentage.

Quite a catch
This was an hour after another grueling practice at Lehigh University. With the temperature close to 100 degrees on a brutally hot July afternoon, there was Reggie Brown, catching ball after ball sent his way from a machine. // While most other players had made their way to much cooler climate, Brown was determined to get some extra work in. // "I'm about working hard," Brown said. "I like to work by myself. I've always been that way. That's what I was taught. I feel that there aren't any distractions that way."

Success on field just part of plan
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The defining feature of Greg Schiano's office is not the red-and-black decor, the 4-foot-high Scarlet Knight mascot or even one of the foam axes fans use to perform "The Chop," the coach's motivational trademark.

Becky Vaughn: Vaughn honored, grateful for support of House run
No candidate runs alone, wins alone, or loses alone. I will always be honored and grateful for the confidence so many of you invested in me with your words, your time, your money and/or your vote. I am proud of what we accomplished, and it wouldn't have happened without so many of you.

Nancy Gilbert: Darfur can't be ignored by the world any longer
I think we all need to take a look at what is happening to the people in the Darfur region of the African nation of Sudan. It won't be too many years until we'll be the people that are talked about in the history books as the people who said we didn't know about the genocide in Darfur - and that will be a lie, because we did know.

Laura Maloy Richmond: UGA should address tenured-teaching issue
While I do agree with Mark Twain's assessment of statistics as lies, I can't abide the blasé acceptance of "circumstances" at the University of Georgia as a reason for a lack of tenured professors in the classroom, as stated in the Nov. 10 letter, "Tenured-teaching concerns ignore the realities at UGA."

Claude Miller: Democrats' election theft warrants an investigation
OK, I've waited for more than a week now and haven't heard anything, so it's time to ask: I was told repeatedly the Republicans stole the 2000, 2002, and 2004 elections. So why didn't they steal the elections of 2006? I was told repeatedly that electronic voting machines are rigged by those rascally Republicans, so what went wrong this time - a programming error?

Clarification
A Nov. 10 letter to the editor, "Elections mark return of sanity to country," was not submitted by the Bill Beery who is a retired University of Georgia professor living in Lexington.

Pettis: Catalpa worms; Grandpa's fish bait
Every spring when the oak leaves are the size of squirrels' ears, I begin to get the urge to go fishing. That's when I pack up my fishing poles, tackle box and straw hat and head south to my good buddy's farm pond in Upson County where I grew up.

Today in history
Today is Saturday, Nov. 18, the 322nd day of 2006. There are 43 days left in the year.

Don't miss the Athens
Comedy Experience
Maurice Sims of 27 Wayz Entertainment will return to the Classic City with the Thanksgiving Edition of his Athens Comedy Experience on Wednesday at Stan's Bar & Grill on Baxter Street.

Athens Symphony Chorus debuts
For nearly 30 years, the Athens Symphony has helped usher in the Christmas season on a musical note, and two years ago the symphony established its own Christmas Choir for its annual holiday performances.

Agent Answers
I have squirrels that are nesting in the engine of my car. Why are they doing this and what can I do to get rid of them?

Galaxy gazers
In the 1950s, when Maurice Snook was a teenager, so intent was he on looking up to the heavens that he spent some two years waiting and working to do just that.

Gerson: The true spirit of Thanksgiving
Of all our national holidays, our upcoming Thanksgiving day is the one I most love. It is the truest, purest American holiday. It belongs to no single religious group, nor does it even have any particular sectarian leaning. It belongs equally to all of us.

James Brown mixed-up with lawsuit again
COLUMBIA, S.C. - A woman who claims soul singer James Brown raped her is asking the Supreme Court to hear her sexual harassment lawsuit, which a lower court ruled this year she had waited too long to file.

Athens broadcast of 'Mountain Stage' Sunday on WUGA
If you missed the live performance of "Mountain Stage" recorded in August at the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center, you have a chance to hear the program, which airs at 2 p.m. Sunday on WUGA 91.7 and 97.9 FM.

Open house planned for I-85 widening
The state Department of Transportation will provide information about an Interstate 85 widening project in Franklin and Hart counties at an open house set for 4-7 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Old Lavonia Train Depot and Welcome Center, 1269 E. Main St., Lavonia.

Annual Fort Benning protest could draw a record 20,000
COLUMBUS - Excited by the changes in Washington, organizers hope for a record 20,000 protesters at Fort Benning's heavily fortified main gate this weekend, continuing a 17-year effort to close a military school they blame for assassinations, torture and other human rights abuses in Latin America.

Weakened Bush still tough with N. Korea
SINGAPORE - Hurt by election losses back home, President Bush tried to exert his authority on the world stage Thursday by warning a nuclear-armed North Korea against peddling its weapons and vowing the United States would not retreat into isolationism.

Pentagon announces U.S. troop deployments for '07
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon announced Friday that 57,000 U.S. troops, including five combat brigades, have been told to deploy to Iraq early next year - a move that will maintain current force levels there.

G.I. gets life for part in Iraq rape-slaying
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - A soldier was sentenced Thursday to life in prison with the possibility of parole for conspiring to rape a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and kill her and her family.

FBI opens forensic lab near Augusta
AIKEN, S.C. - The FBI announced the opening of a new forensic lab at the Savannah River Site on Friday that will help in the fight against terrorism by cleaning evidence contaminated by radiation.

Have patience with Iraq, Bush urges in Vietnam
HANOI, Vietnam - Visiting a land where America suffered military defeat, President Bush urged patience for positive results in Iraq on Friday and tried to stiffen global resolve to challenge a nuclear-armed North Korea.

Kingston loses GOP leadership race
WASHINGTON - A Florida congressman was elected Friday as chairman of the House Republican Conference, beating U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia and two others for the job.

Board of education denies gun proposal
For the second time this month, the Clarke County Board of Education rebuffed one member's request to adopt a temporary security policy that would allow two high school security supervisors to being to carry guns immediately.

Young dad fights for father's rights
ATLANTA - Rashad Head, 17, is accustomed to challenges as a high school football player. And he's used to hard work after holding two jobs over the summer.

Police knocking at houses of crime
Athens-Clarke police continue to crack down on people who disrupt neighborhoods by selling sex, drugs or illegal booze - and shut down the places where those people do business.

Drop in gas prices pushes consumer costs down
WASHINGTON - A big drop in gas prices pushed consumer costs down for a second straight month, and factories staged a modest rebound - signs the Federal Reserve is managing to stem inflation without pushing the country into recession.

Sorority to host step show Saturday
The Zeta Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta at the University of Georgia will host a step show Saturday at Clarke Central High School to show steps to elementary and high school students.

Median cable barriers coming to I-85
Interstate 85 through Franklin and Hart counties should be safer next year, thanks to nearly 24 miles of steel cable barriers a state Department of Transportation contractor will install to keep cars from crossing open medians and colliding head-on with traffic headed the other way.

Charity wants to create day care for homeless
A church-started charity would turn an existing daycare center on the campus of the Navy Supply Corps School into a place homeless children could spend the day while their parents work, under a proposal submitted to a committee planning the future of the base.

Tornado survivors start salvage work
RIEGELWOOD, N.C. - Darryl McNair was sleeping moments before a tornado ripped his house and his life from their foundations. He returned to what was left of his home Friday to see if there was anything left worth keeping.

Immigrants' guilty pleas a raw deal?
Manuel Alejandro struck his wife during an argument in their Oconee County home five years ago, leading to simple battery charges and a plea deal that put him on probation for 11 months.

Allies battle gunmen following abductions
BAGHDAD, Iraq - British ground forces and U.S. military helicopters fought with gunmen Friday in southern Iraq where four American security contractors and their Austrian co-worker were abducted in a convoy hijacking near the Kuwait border.

House GOP leader vowing to 'earn' back majority
WASHINGTON - Cast into the minority by an angry electorate, House Republicans chose Rep. John Boehner of Ohio on Friday to lead a return to power as quickly as possible. "We're going to earn our way back into the majority," he vowed.

Legislators do need to discuss cell phone use
It's hard to argue against state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver's proposals for legislation designed to curb cell phone use by drivers. In a pair of bills she pre-filed for consideration in the upcoming session of the Georgia General Assembly, Oliver is proposing to make it illegal for 16- and 17-year-olds to use cell phones while driving, and she also wants to establish a charge of "driving while distracted" for Georgia drivers involved in an accident while talking on a cell phone.

Bestwick: Early grades best place to get kids focused on academics
When it comes to public education in Georgia, it's easy to be confused by mixed messages. On one hand, the state is criticized constantly - from within and without - about low test scores, our dropout rate and the general failure to provide a better qualified group of graduates for the workforce in Georgia. On the other hand, we keep hearing the incoming freshman classes at the University of Georgia and other state institutions of higher learning are the best classes ever admitted.

Quotables
"I hated Iraqis, your honor. They can smile at you, then shoot you in your face without even thinking about it."

Yarbrough: Last-minute political ad cynically played race card
Congratulations to Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Congressman John Lewis, D-Ga., and former U.N. Ambassador Andy Young. Just when I thought political advertising couldn't get any sleazier and the truth any looser, they proved me wrong. In an environment where standards are lower than low, they set a new record.

Sacco: Democrats could show the Republicans some magic worth seeing
Staggering about like soldiers after a long night of shelling, it's going to take a while for Republicans to realize exactly what happened to them on Election Day and get their legs back under them. They can't quite yet believe they were rocked so badly by the relentless artillery barrage rained down upon them by angry voters in Nov. 7 balloting.

Spivey sparks Falcons
MABLETON - As good as Darreion Robinson was, he wasn't the best running back on the field Friday night.

D is the key for Bulldogs
HARTWELL - Hart County's offense showed mediocre results Friday, but the defense forced eight turnovers - seven in the second half - to baffle Dunwoody in a 23-7 victory in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs at Herndon Stadium.

Shout out for shutout
When Athens Academy beat Fellowship Christian earlier this season, the Spartans' offense received recognition for an impressive victory. During Friday night's rematch, the defense decided to take some of the glory.

Hangin' with: Athens Academy's Sam Pittard
Senior receiver/defensive back Sam Pittard's 61-yard punt return opened Athens Academy's scoring in a 34-7 victory over Fellowship Christian on Sept. 29. The two teams meet again tonight in the first round of the Class A state playoffs at Slaughter Field at Athens Academy.

Tailback expected to verbally commit
For the last year, tailback Caleb King has been hounded about which school will land his services, and during that time he's remained mum on the subject.

Small tiger, big impact
Heads shake when Dywane Hampton makes a tackle. Sometimes Hampton shakes his head, a signal to runners they will have a tough night. Sometimes, the running backs' heads shake from the impact.

Windy City rivals swap relievers
NAPLES, Fla. - It took a trip to Florida for Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams and Cubs GM Jim Hendry to make a trade with each other.

Minus Shaq, Heat lose
MIAMI - The Miami Heat lost at home for the third game in a row Friday night, and they'll have to shake their slump without Shaquille O'Neal.

For Kahne, pole wins are lucrative
HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Kasey Kahne was eliminated from the Nextel Cup Series championship two weeks ago, but he settled for a $100,000 consolation prize Friday at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Polamalu OK; Ravens' Lewis to miss game
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu was upgraded to probable and is expected to start against Cleveland despite sustaining his sixth concussion of his career last weekend.

Chasing down Johnson a challenge
MIAMI - The way this Chase for the Championship has gone, no one should be conceding the Nextel Cup title to Jimmie Johnson just yet.

Lelie wins dispute with Broncos
DENVER - The Denver Broncos must pay $220,000 to former receiver Ashley Lelie in connection with the dispute over his departure to Atlanta.

Athletics eye Bonds for DH
OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland Athletics need a designated hitter, and they aren't going far for one potential candidate to fill the spot: Barry Bonds.

Woods two back in Japan
MIYAZAKI, Japan - Tiger Woods overcame a slow start and shot a 3-under 67 Thursday to sit two strokes behind leader Shingo Katayama after the first round of the Dunlop Phoenix.

Woods in line for 3-peat
MIYAZAKI, Japan - Tiger Woods shot a 5-under-par 65 Friday to take a one-stroke lead into the second half of the Dunlop Phoenix golf tournament.

Schulters eager for late start
FLOWERY BRANCH - Spending the first half of the season unsigned and involuntarily away from football gave Lance Schulters a lot of time for questions he couldn't answer:

LPGA will test for drugs; PGA to follow
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The United States' two major professional golf tours took steps Wednesday to adopt stricter policies on the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Twice as nice
NEW YORK - Johan Santana swept the Cy Young ballot the same way he buzzed through batters all season.

Bucks' Villanueva out 4 to 6 weeks
MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva will be sidelined four to six weeks because of a torn ligament in his left elbow, the team said Thursday.

Atlanta loses third straight game
ATLANTA - Mike Ribeiro scored two goals in the opening period and Patrik Stefan enjoyed a successful return to Atlanta, leading the Dallas Stars to a 5-3 win over the Thrashers on Friday night.

Loss of a legend stuns Michigan
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - It probably was hard for Bo Schembechler to sit in a sophomore-level class called Systematic Thinking About Problems of the Day and not get involved in the discussion.

Jennifer Sheriff
Although Lavonia Elementary School Literacy Coach Jennifer Sheriff loves working with students, she admits getting a kick out of teaching the teachers as well. Sheriff, who often leads professional development at the school, says she loves helping others find a way to get through to students. "It's wonderful to work with a teacher who comes back and says, 'He got it. He got it. It worked. It worked.' "

Labels blur as 2 UGA restrooms go neutral
All it took was $12 to transform two public restrooms at the University of Georgia from his and hers to gender neutral facilities that will give transgender staff and students a safe place to "go."

Man charged in 12 break-ins
University of Georgia police this week charged an Athens couple in connections with 12 car break-ins on campus and with trying to sell stolen goods to local pawn shops and consignment stores.